Our market development work is important to achieving our statutory objective to promote competition in, reliable supply by and the efficient operation of the electricity industry for the long-term benefit of consumers.

If an anomalous event or outcome occurs in the market or the broader electricity sector, we investigate it to determine the causes and whether something can or should be done to prevent such an event or outcome from occurring again.

Stakeholder briefing on proposed changes to official conservation campaigns and the hydro risk curves

The Electricity Authority and Transpower are jointly hosting a briefing on two projects that relate to security of supply. The briefing will follow after the Authority’s meeting of regulatory managers and consumer representatives. It will also be broadcast by videoconference (details to be confirmed).

The two projects are:

the Authority’s Review of regulatory settings for official conservation campaigns

Transpower’s Review of the security of supply forecasting and information policy.

These two projects deal with similar subject matter and both have dependencies on the other. As such, the Authority and Transpower have released consultations simultaneously on 11 December.

The consultations propose various changes designed to improve the reliability of the system, including:

the inclusion of contingent hydro storage

setting the start- and stop-triggers for official conservation campaigns

arrangements to ensure contingent hydro storage remains accessible

using floors to avoid contingent hydro storage being inaccessible.

The joint briefing will cover:

an introduction to how the current arrangements function

the proposed changes (collectively and individually) and rationale

the alternatives.

The briefing is an opportunity for participants to hear from the project teams and better understand the outcome of the two projects. Feel free to share this invite with interested colleagues.